Method of and apparatus for treating liquid



April 25, 1944.; w. B. GURNEY METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING LIQUID Filed Dec. 16, 1959' 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 3

INVENTOR. WILLIAM BREWSTER GURNEY BY ATTORNEY April 25, 194 w.'B. GURNEY 2,347,313

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING LIQUID Filed Dec. 16, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. WILLIAM BREWSTER GURNEY ATTORNEY Patented as, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT omen Y assure I METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR ran-am G LIQUID N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application December 16, 1939, Scrhl No. 399,548 13 Claims. (Cl. 210-16) This invention relates to methodof and apparatus for treating liquid; an it comprises a tank, partition means dividing the tank into a coagulating vessel and a precipitating section, other partition means dividing the precipitating section into a plurality of chambers, passages interconnecting each of said chambers with the coagulatmg vessel, agitator means in the coagulating vessel, means for supp ing liquid to be treated and liquid treat chemical to the coagulating vessel, and means i r withdrawing treated liquid from each 01 said chambers; all as more fully. set forth hereinafter and as claimed.

This invention is an improvement on liquid treating apparatus of the general type disclosed in the Spaulding Patent No. 2,021,672, dated November 19, 1935, wherein liquid to be treated and liquid treating chemical ar passed into a coagulating vessel, mixed and agitated therein by means of a mechanical agitator and the mixture is then passed upwardly at decreasing velocity through a precipitating vessel wherein a sludge illter is maintained which aids the precipitation and separation of matter to be removed from the liquid, clear treated liquid being withdrawn from the upper portion of the precipitating vessel.

The objects of my invention are, first, to provide an apparatus of the aforementioned type wherein a larger quantit of liquid can be treated per unit of floor space: secondly, to provide an apparatus suitable for large scale liquid treatment in which a larger quantity of liquid can be treated within a given tank volume; and thirdly, to provide an apparatus in which agitating means of a given size with power means of a given rating sufiice for alarger quantity of liquid.

The manner in which the foregoing objects are achieved is shown in the appended drawing in which- .Fig. l is an elevation of an apparatus according to my invention, in cross-section along line l-l ofFigs. 2and 3;

Figs. 2 and 3 are alternative plan views of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an elevation of'another modification, in cross-section along line l--4 of Fig. 5; and

5 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several figures.

Referring now to Figs. 1 to 3, a tank Ill which may be of cylindrical shape as shown in Fig. 2, or 01 rectan ular shape as shown in Fig. 3, is provided with a funnel-shapedpartition ll having a central opening l2 and dividing the tank into a 55 cipitates in suspension. The precipitated matter connected to chamber 23 by means oi. pipe 28, and

lower coagulating vessel i1 and an upper precipitating section. Above the partition -II is a second similar funnel-shaped partition I: provided with a vertical conduit ll extending downwardlv to the level of the opening l2. In the cylindrical tank the funnel-shaped partitions H and I! are of conical shape whereas in the tank of rectangular cross section the partitions are shaped as pyramids. The conduit I4 is preterably made oi. such size that its cross-sectional area is eq l to approximately one-half of the area of the opening l2. Within the conduit it are radial battles i5 and extending from the wall oi conduit II to the fimnel-shapcd partition Ii are other radial babies I. The upper partition II divides the precipitating section into a lower precipitating chamber l2 and an upper precipitating chamber l9. Within the oa ulating vessel I1 is an agitator mounted on a vertical shaft 2l'which'rims in a bearing 22 and is enclosed in aprotecting tube 23. The shalt 2i is rotated through a speed reducer 24 by means of a motor 25 mounted on beams 26 on topd! tank ill. Aninlet :1 for liquid and liquid treating chemical is m communication with the coagulating vessel ll to which is also connected a sludge outlet 28 provided with a valve 29. Adjacent the top of tank It is an outlet box 20 provided with weirs 3| and 32 which divide'the 'box into compartments l3 and 84 and a discharge chamber 35 to which latter an outlet 38 is connected. In the upper precipitating chamber I9 is a perforated collector 31 in the lower precipitating chamber i8 is another Perforated collector 39 connected to chamber 34 by means of pipe 40;

In operation of the device shown in Figs. 1 to 3, liquid and chemical for the treatment of this liquid are admitted through inlet 21 into the coagulating vessel II where they are subjected to entle agitation by the rotating agitator 20. From the coagulating vessel part of the liquid flows through the annular opening l2 past lbailles i6 into the lower precipitating chamber l8 while remainder flows past baflles it through cond t it into the upper precipitating chamber 19 In the precipitating chambers 18 and IS the water flows upwardly at decreasing velocity, maintaining precipitates in suspension to form sludge filters Hand 42, respectively, which are material in eflecting rapid and thorough liquid treating re-. actions. Part way up in the precipitating chambers the velocity of the liquid decreases to such extent that it can no longer maintain the prelength orheight of wens ti and at. Other flow controlling or flow limiting devices, such as oriilces in pipes II and II, may be substituted for the weirs. Accinnulated precipitates. are removed either periodically or continuously through sludge outlet it under thecontrol of valve 2!. 3

Referring now to the modification shown in m4a'nd5whichisorthegeneraltmdiscloaedintheco-pendingpatentofJamesll.

Montgomery and Willa. W. Aultman, No.

2,284,139, dated November 25, 1941, a tank comprises side walls" and II, l2 and II andarectangularbottom u. Withinthetankare inclinedwalls I and-I8 joinedtogether at the topaudterminatingshortofthesidewallsfl and II. These inclined walls divide the tank intoalowercoagulanngvesseli'landanupper precipitating section. Above the inclined walls 5! and It and parallel thereto are inclined walls it and I! dividing the precipitating section into a lower precipitating chamber II and two upper precipitating chambers I and i2. Vertical walls 83 and Cl joined to the lower ends of the upper inclined walls I and I9, respectively, deilne vertical passages CI and leading from the coagulatingvessel l'l tothe precipitating chambers I,

and II, respectively, and openings 81 and 68 leading to the lower precipitating chamber II. Betweentheinclinedwalls I. and II and-near their upperendsisawall liiorminga U-shapeddlscharge chamber II and a vertical pasage 1| communicating with the lower precipltating chamber II. On the top edge of inclined wall It is mountedaweir I2, on the topedseor the wall is mounted a u-shaped weir It and on top of inclined wall I! is mounted a weir II. The combined length of weirs I! and I4 is approximately equal to the length'of the U-shaped w'eirjl, and

all three weirs are so arrangedthat 'their edges are on the same level. An inlet for liquid and chemical for the treatment thereof passes into coagulating vessel l1 and an'outlet It for treated liquid is connected to the -U-shaped dischargechamber "II as shown. .A-branched sludge outlet 11 in communication with the coagulating vessel 2,847,818 thenstaysbehinda ndclearliquldflowsthrough streams passing upwardly through openings 1 and into the lower; precipitating .chamber 60 and through passages and it into the upper precipitating chambers SI and 82, respectively.

Within the precipitatiing' chambers sludge filters 02, I3, ll and "are maintained as shown and clear treatedliquidpasses from chambers ii and 02 over weirs l2 and 14 into discharge chamover the U-shaped weir 13 into discharge cham ber II. The treated liquid leaves theapparatus "in a single streamthrough outlet I6. Sludgeis continuously a given tank volume and on a given floor space,

of a much greater quantity of liquid than when only a single precipitating vessel is used. Furthermore the agitating device of a given size likewise serves a greater quantity of liquid all or a which makes the apparatus more compact and I spaced sets'of chambers by the use'of additional 51 is provided with a valve II. A motor I! with a gear reduction ll is moimted on a platform 8| on top of the apparatus and drives a vertical shaft it which, through bevel gears 83, rotates ahorizontal shaft II. The horizontal shaft it drives, through bevel gears II, a horizontal agitator it and, through bevel gears 81, a horizontal agitator 88 in such manner that'the agitators It Figs. 1 to 3. Liquid and chemical for the treat-' ment thereof enter through inlet 15 into the coagulating vessel 51 and are subjected to gentle inclined partitions. Other modifications of the apparatus shown and described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention, and reference is therefore made to the following claims for a definition of the scope ofmyinvention. What I claim is:-

l. The method of treating liquid which comprises mixing said liquid with a treating agent in a coagulating zone, flowing the mixture of.

flow of said divided streams.

2. Apparatus for treating liquid comprising a tank, a coagulating chamber in said tank, means for introducing liquid and treating agent into said chamber, means in said chamber for mixin said liquid and said treating agent, wall means forming a plurality of separate precipitating zones in said tank, a plurality of separate passage means providing for the flow of mixed liquid,

. treating agent and partlyformed sludge in diagitation. The mixture is then divided into four vided stream into said precipitating zones-and for causing said stream or said mixture to rise with decreasing velocity in. the respective precipitatingzonestomaintainasludge filterbed in each or said zones, means for removing excess slud e from said tank, and means for withdrawing clarified liquid from said precipitating zones.

3. Apparatus for treating liquid which comprises a tank, partition means dividing said tank into a lower coagulating vessel and an upper precipitating section, other partition means above the first named partition means dividing the precipitating section into a plurality of chambers, agitator means in the coagulating vessel, means for moving the agitator means, means for supplying liquid to be treated and liquid treating chemical to the coagulating vessel, means forming a plurality of separatepassages each connecting the lowermost portion of one of said chambers of said precipitating section with said coagulating vessel, means for removing excess sludge from said tank, and means for withdrawing treated liquid from said chambers.

4. Apparatus for treating liquid which comprises a tank, partition means dividing said tank into a coagulating vessel and a precipitating sec tion, other partition means dividing the precipitating section into a plurality of chambers, agitator means in the coagulating vessel, means for moving the agitator means, means for supplying liquid and liquid treating chemical to the coagulating. vessel, separate passages eachconnecting the lowest portion of one of the chambers of said precipitating section with said coagulating vessel, means for removing excess sludge from said tank, and means for withdrawing treated liquid from said chambers. 5. Apparatus for treating liquid which comprises a tank, sloping partition means dividing the tank into a lower coagulating vessel and an upper' precipitating section and defining an opening through which the coagulating vessel and the precipitating section communicate with each other,

other sloping partition means above the first named partition means dividing the precipitating section into upper and lower chambers, passage means extending from said other partition means to the coagulating vessel and interconnecting the upper of said chambers with the coagulating vessel, agitator means in the coagulating vessel, means for moving the agitator means, means for supplying liquid to be treated and liquid treating chemical to the coagulating vessel, means for removing excess sludge from said tank, and means for withdrawing treated liquid from each of said chambers.

6. Apparatus for treating liquid which comprises a tank, sloping partition means dividing the tank into a lower coagulating vessel and an upper precipitating section, other sloping partition means above the first named partition means dividing the precipitating section into a lurality of superimposed chambers, separate passage means interconnecting each of said chambers with the coagulating vessel, agitator means in the coagulating vessel, means for moving the agitator means, means for supplying liquid to be treated and liquid treating chemicalto the coagulating vessel. means for removing excess sludge from said tank, discharge means for withdrawing treated liquid from each chamber of the precipitating section, and means for maintaining a predetermined relation between the rates of flow oi treated liquid from the respective chambers of the precipitating section. v

'7. Apparatus for treating liquid which comprises a tank, sloping partition means dividing the tank into a lower coagulating vessel and an upper 3 precipitating section and defining an opening "through which the coagulating vessel and the precipitating section communicate with each other, other sloping partition means above the first named partition means dividing the precipitating section into upper and lower chambers, passage means extending from said other partition means to the level of said opening and interconnecting the upper of said chambers with the coagulating vessel, agitator means in the coagulating vessel, means formoving the agitator means, means for supplying liquid tobe treated and liquid treating chemical to the coagulating vessel, a collecting compartment, an outlet for the collecting compartment, means for discharging liquid from each 01' said chambers into said collecting compartment comprising a plurality of weirs, one of said weirs being adapted to discharge treated liquid from the upper chamber into the collecting compartment, another of said weirs being adapted to discharge treated liquid from a lower chamber into the collecting compartment, means for removing excess sludge from said tank, and passage means connecting said lower chamber with said other weir.

8. Apparatus for treating liquid which comprises a tank. a funnel shaped partition dividing the tank into a lowercoagulating vessel and an upper precipitating section and having an opening in its lowermost part, a second funnel shaped partition dividing the precipitating section into an upper and a lower chamber, passage means extending from the upper chamber to the level of the opening and interconnecting the upper chamber with the coagulating vessel, an agitator in the coagulating vessel, means for rotating the agitator, means for supplying liquid to be treated and liquid treating chemical to the coagulating vessel, means for removing excess sludge from said tank, and means for withdrawv ing treated liquid from each chamber.

9. Apparatus for treating liquid which comprises a cylindrical, upright tank, a partition in the form of an inverted frusto-conical member dividing the tank into a lower coagulating vesseland an upper precipitating section, an opening in the conical partition, another partition in the form of an inverted irusto-conical member above the first named partition dividing the precipitating section into an upper and a lower chamber, a conduit extending from the upper prises a tank having a bottom, a partition in the shape of an inverted pyramid dividing the tank into a lower coagulating vessel and an up per precipitating section, another partition in the shape of an inverted pyramid dividing the precipitating section into'an upper and a lower chamber, passage means interconnecting the coagulating vessel with each chamber, agitator means in the coagulating vessel, means for rotating the agitator means, means for supplying,

liquid to be treated and liquid treating chemical to the coagulating vessel, means for withdrawing 4 excess sludge from said tank, and means for withdrawing treated liquid from each chamber.

11. Apparatus for treating liquid'which comprisesatankhavlngarectangularbottom side walls andend walls, an inclined partition ex-' tendingfromoneendwalltotbeotherandter- Y minating short of one side wall thus defining an opening between said one side wall and the inclined wall, theinclined wall dividing the tank into a lower'coagulating and an upper precipitating section, another partition substantially parallel to the first named partition and terminating short of said one side .wall and dividing the precipitating section into an upper and a lower chamber, passage means extending from the upper chamber to the coagulating vessel, agitating means in the coagulating vessel, means for moving the agitating means, means for supplying liquid to be treated and. q d treating chemical to the coagulating vessel, means for removing excess sludge from said tank, and means for withdrawing treated liquid from each chamber.

agulating vessel, agitator means in the consul ing vessel, means for moving the agitator means, means for supplying liquid to be treated and liquid treating chemical to the coagulating vessel, means for removing excess sludge from said tank and means for withdrawing treated liquid chambers, passage means interconnecting said 12. Apparatus for treating liquid which comprises a tank having a rectangular bottom, side walls and end walls, a pair of walls inclined toward each other, extending from one end wall to the other and having their lower edges terminating short of the side walls, said walls defining a lower coagulating vessel and an'upper ,precipitating section, another pair of inclined wallsparalleltotheflrstnamedpairofwalls and dividing the precipitating section into upper and lower chamhers,-passage means interconnecting the upper chambers with the cocoagulating vessel with each of said chambers.

saidpassagemeanscomprisingbpeningsinthelowennost portions of said partition and of said partition means, agitator means in the M the respective chambers of the precipitating section. 

